Masters Swimming SA February Update
Summer Pool Series 2015/16
Our Summer Pool Series is proving to be a hit with swimmers this season with an increase in the number of swimmers participating on previous years. Held at pools on the outskirts of the
metropolitan area, the second event of the series was held at Gawler Swimming Pool on Sunday, 31 January and attracted 68 swimmers. It was another beautiful day for competing made that much better by the lush grounds surrounding the pool and a number of family and friends turning out to provide support.
The Tea Tree Gully Kingfishers are continuing their winning streak and lead the series with a total of 1,295 points, followed by Aquadome Otters with 967 points and Marion Marlins in third place on 421 points.
Joanne Sutcliffe achieved a National Record in 400m Backstroke (5m59.97s) along with Mark Smedley in 400m Butterfly (6m21.58s). Many swimmers broke State Records – Joanne Sutcliffe, Maryanne Heffernan, Deborah wareing, Eithne Mayton, Jenny Mulqueen, Joy Page and Mark Smedley.
A huge thank you to the Aquadome Otters and Tea Tree Gully Kingfishers for holding a picnic in the park with an open invitation to all after the swim and also to our hard working officials who without this series would not happen!
We are now turning our attention to the last event of the series which will be held at Strathalbyn Swimming Pool on Sunday, 6 March. With close to 80 swimmers entered we are looking forward to some great weather and “Fitness, Fun and Friendship” in the pool.
2015/16 Channel Nine Open Water Swim Series
It has been another great summer in the ocean so far. Along with the efforts of our Open Water Swim Director and Channel Nine’s continued sponsorship of the series with on beach and television
promotions, we have seen all of the swims being well represented by both members and the general public. To date we have even had 22 members who have managed to complete all swims in the series.
Now we have only two swims left in the 2015-2016 Channel Nine Open Water Swim Series. The final swims will be held at Port Elliot on Saturday, 5 March hosted by the Atlantis Frogs and Noarlunga Reef on Monday, 14 March hosted by Noarlunga Masters. For more details on dates, locations, times and distances visit our website’s Events page.
Our two biggest events of the series are held each January, being the Masters Swimming SA State Open Water Championships and the Nine News Australia Day Jetty to Jetty Long Swim.
Our State Open Water Championships were hosted by the Marion Marlins on Sunday, 17 January and attracted 162 participants to West Beach. This is a great event that is open to members and the general public and offers both 1km and 3km events.
Fastest male and female in the 1km Championship event were Grant Simpson (Henley Beach) and Leila Nazimi (Henley Beach). The 3km winners were Georgy Falster (Marion) and Garth Tierney (Henley Beach).
Team Trophies for Aggregate Points and Points /Swimmer went to Marion and Atlantis respectively.
The Marie Dingwall trophy was awarded jointly to Madeleine Edgley-Smith and Eithne Mayton of Tea Tree Gully.
Barb Pearce (Marion) was the inaugural winner of the trophy for oldest female competitor.
Thanks to the Marion Marlins for an extremely well organised event with prizes galore!
The annual Nine News Australia Day Jetty to Jetty Long Swim is always our marque event of the series, but it was made even more special this year as we celebrated a huge milestone. This year marked the 100th year since the first swim between the Henley and Grange jetties took place in 1917. We had a near record attendance of 429 registered swimmers, well ahead of last year where we had 352 starters and just short of the record 430 starters in 2012.
As part of the celebrations, we had a display of old photographs of the swim from between 1917 and 1923, with acknowledgement going to the State Library of South Australia and Lynton White for his research efforts.
Georgy Faster from Marion was the fastest female in a time of 26m51s taking home the Wingate Trophy while in the males Christopher Deegan in a time of 24m32s won the Ted Geary Trophy. Andy Duncan aged 80 and Barbara Pearce from Marion aged 79 received the Awards for the Oldest
Swimmers to complete the swim, the Darryl Hawkes Trophy and Simons Trophy respectively. The Nine News Jetty to Jetty Team Award and Masters Swimming SA Cup were both won by Adelaide Masters.
Thanks to Rosemary White, Leanne Beames, John Gamlen and all the individuals and clubs for their efforts in making the day such a success. Brenton Ragless did an outstanding job as MC at the Presentation ceremony, ably assisted by our Ambassador, Sally Hunter, and Peter Hodgkinson, Manager of West Beach Community Branch of Bendigo Bank (Principal Sponsor).
Target is 500 swimmers in 2017 so please join us again next year!
In The Future of 2016
5 March 2016 Channel Nine Open Water Swim Series – Port Elliot
6 March 2016 MSSA Summer Pool Series: Swim #3 – Strathalbyn Swimming Pool 14 March 2016 Channel Nine Open Water Swim Series – Noarlunga Reef Swim 3 April 2016 MSSA Long Course State Cup – Adelaide Aquatic Centre
16 April 2016 2016 South Australian Masters Games – Murray Bridge Swimming Centre 21 – 24 April 2016 MSA National Championships – Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre 22 May 2016 MSSA Interclub 1 (LC) – SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre
